"It's said, 'True love is about sacrifice for the sake of the ones you love.' Francis Chan." ~Aspen Hill

Leaves and twigs snapped under the weight of every step Aspen took, with Hotchner not far behind her. They scanned the mountain floor trying to find the most recent body of their current UnSub or Unknown Suspect, which seemed to be happening in their our backyard of Washington DC. A young lady of about 26, blonde hair, blue eyes, and freckles over the bridge of her nose, a college student. Her name was Brittany, Brittany Madison.

Looking up to the sky, she searched for an answer, for anything really. Aspen's heart sank when she saw the circle of birds. Rubbing her brow, she sighed trying to hide the anger building within her.

"Hotch," she took a deep breath. "I think I know where to look."

"Where?" Hotch looked up quickly from the section of ground he was scanning.

"About a half mile north." Aspen pointed to the birds that were still circling.

"Let's go." Hotchner and Aspen walked through the woods silently half a mile before breaking into a clearing. There she was, just there, lying on the ground in the middle of the small clearing. Aspen had to turn away for a moment. "She's still warm, but there's no pulse.: Hotch spoke up pulling her back to reality.

"Damn it, Hotch." Aspen glanced down before looking away. "We could have saved her. She didn't have to die." Clenching her jaw and fits, she tried not to scream.

"Aspen, we did everything we could."

"But, it wasn't enough Aaron," she released her fists. "we were so close." A gunfire went off and both agents hit the ground quickly. Aspen's head shot up only to find Hotch on the ground grabbing his shoulder where blood was slipping through his fingers slowly. "Aaron!" She yelled jumping to her feet and running over to him, only to fall to her knees.

"It's just a shoulder wound," he said keeping his calm composure. "just stay down." Pulling out her phone, Aspen unlocked it to find they had no cell service. She swore under her breath trying to find a way to get them out of there with minimal damage.

"Keep pressure on it."

"Aspen, stay down. That's an order." Ignoring him, she faced back the way they had come, the way she believed, the bullet came from.

"Well come on then!" she screamed. "Shoot me!" But there was nothing, just an eery quietness. "What? Can't shoot a woman?! Or yet, a woman who could win your stupid little game!" Another shot went off hitting her in the lower leg, causing Aspen to fall to her knees.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?" Hotch got wide eyed for a moment when he saw Aspen hit the ground. "Or worse, both of us."

"I knew he'd shoot me Aaron, that was kind of the point." Aspen snapped back quickly. "I also know that when he gets down here," she took a sharp breath. "he'll take me and leave you because you're going to lay there quietly and he's going to think you're dying."

"Now lay there and shut up." She spoke again after a short while.

"Asp-"

"Aaron Hotchner," she took a breath to keep her vision clear. "for once in your life listen to someone who doesn't want to see you in pain. Do I make myself clear? Or do I have to repeat myself?" Aspen laid down on her back only two feet from Hotchner.

"Yes ma'am." He chuckled lightly through the pain. "Aspen?"

"What?" She snapped.

"We will find you and this time I won't be to. . ." He trailed off.

"Hotch?" Aspen asked, but there was no response. "Aaron?" Still nothing. She let her eyes finally close and a tear run down her cheek. She was engulfed in darkness and was no longer in control of her body. She was emptiness.